Building on yesterday’s post, and running the risk of being accused of the heresy of preaching prosperity (How dare I say God wants good things for us!), let’s look at Psalm 27:13.
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
For some reason, the phrase “in the land of the living” has always struck me as incredibly poetic. Where are we? Where have we ever been for as long as we’ve ever been conscious?
In the land of the living.
Where do we see God’s goodness?
Here, in the land of the living.
It’s not just after death, or “in the land of the dead” that we see God’s goodness, though that is certainly true too. Another Psalm — 139 — tells us the beautiful line that we cannot flee from God’s presence, even if we descend to the depths.
So God’s presence and goodness permeates both the lands of the living and the dead.
In their song “Dying in Circles,” the band Silent Planet says, “we forgot your life and became a people of death.” In an interview, the vocalist said he laments the fact that Christians have put SO much emphasis on life after death, to the neglect of life before death.
But the Bible is full of good news for our lives now…we don’t need to wait until death to experience the joy, the love, the life, and the fullness of God. Too many Christians live inside a religious frame that is pretty much bad news up until we die.
But reflect on Psalm 27. Hold onto the good news that we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living; that means now, today.
And if it feels like you’re not anywhere close to experiencing God’s goodness today, just read the next verse. Here are both, together:
I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Note that the writer encourages us twice to wait.
Are you confident that you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living?
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Day 43 of 100 Days of Blog
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